Obstacles
Title: Obstacles
Fandom: Young Avengers
Characters: Billy Kaplan, Teddy Altman, Iron Lad, Eli Bradley
Prompt: 97. Writer’s Choice
Word Count: 390
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: Inspired by this discussion about Billy Kaplan and his powers.
True heroism requires the wisdom to find the proper path, the courage to face all obstacles, and the magic to blast those obstacles to rubble. - Aurantifolia the Blackhearted
(Jim C. Hines, Goblin Hero, Chapter 6)
Teddy Altman never expected his first act as a superhero would be to help someone cover up almost killing another kid.
At least, Billy made it sound like he’d almost killed the guy.
Billy was currently sitting at Teddy’s kitchen table with Nate and the angry guy who’d introduced himself as Eli while Teddy made Kool-Aid. Teddy’s apartment had been nominated for the meeting thanks to his mother being out of town for a weekend seminar. That, it seemed, made it the perfect place to help Billy deal with this.
"The files say you’re a spell caster," Nate said, sounding a little frustrated as he drummed his fingers on the table, "so it should be easy for you to just… make it look like a light zapped him, or something."
"Okay," Billy said, clearly fighting down his own panic. "How?"
"Wiggle your nose?" Eli suggested unhelpfully as his cell phone went off. He checked the caller ID and announced, "I’ve gotta go. Call me if someone gets arrested."
Billy made a noise like a kicked puppy. "I’m screwed."
Teddy put the Kool-Aid down on the table. "You’re not screwed. If I’m remembering what I’ve read correctly, spell casting is just imposing your will on your surroundings."
"Easier said than done," Billy sighed.
Nate rubbed his forehead with his fingers. "You just have to… focus. I don’t know."
"I’ve been focusing for the last hour and all I’ve got is a headache," Billy snapped. "I’m screwed."
"Maybe what you need is a mantra, like… ‘By the Hoary Hosts of Haggoth.’" Teddy suggested.
Billy blinked, then cracked a small grin that Teddy couldn’t help but think of as ‘cute’. "I always thought that was more of a swearing-but-not-really kind of thing."
"Yeah, probably, but…" Teddy trailed off, his eyes wandering to the bookshelf in the living room. "Hold on, I’ve got an idea… You ever read any self-help books, Billy?"
Fandom: Young Avengers
Characters: Billy Kaplan, Teddy Altman, Iron Lad, Eli Bradley
Prompt: 97. Writer’s Choice
Word Count: 390
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: Inspired by this discussion about Billy Kaplan and his powers.
True heroism requires the wisdom to find the proper path, the courage to face all obstacles, and the magic to blast those obstacles to rubble. - Aurantifolia the Blackhearted
(Jim C. Hines, Goblin Hero, Chapter 6)
Teddy Altman never expected his first act as a superhero would be to help someone cover up almost killing another kid.
At least, Billy made it sound like he’d almost killed the guy.
Billy was currently sitting at Teddy’s kitchen table with Nate and the angry guy who’d introduced himself as Eli while Teddy made Kool-Aid. Teddy’s apartment had been nominated for the meeting thanks to his mother being out of town for a weekend seminar. That, it seemed, made it the perfect place to help Billy deal with this.
"The files say you’re a spell caster," Nate said, sounding a little frustrated as he drummed his fingers on the table, "so it should be easy for you to just… make it look like a light zapped him, or something."
"Okay," Billy said, clearly fighting down his own panic. "How?"
"Wiggle your nose?" Eli suggested unhelpfully as his cell phone went off. He checked the caller ID and announced, "I’ve gotta go. Call me if someone gets arrested."
Billy made a noise like a kicked puppy. "I’m screwed."
Teddy put the Kool-Aid down on the table. "You’re not screwed. If I’m remembering what I’ve read correctly, spell casting is just imposing your will on your surroundings."
"Easier said than done," Billy sighed.
Nate rubbed his forehead with his fingers. "You just have to… focus. I don’t know."
"I’ve been focusing for the last hour and all I’ve got is a headache," Billy snapped. "I’m screwed."
"Maybe what you need is a mantra, like… ‘By the Hoary Hosts of Haggoth.’" Teddy suggested.
Billy blinked, then cracked a small grin that Teddy couldn’t help but think of as ‘cute’. "I always thought that was more of a swearing-but-not-really kind of thing."
"Yeah, probably, but…" Teddy trailed off, his eyes wandering to the bookshelf in the living room. "Hold on, I’ve got an idea… You ever read any self-help books, Billy?"